Roof ventilator



H. M. KATT ETAL 2,954,727 ROOF VENTILATOR v Filed Sept; 6,1195? INVENTORHarold M Ka svJamesfljlmmons,

ATTORNEYS.

tilated, depending on the slope of going This invention relatesgenerally to the ventilating 'art, and more particularly to a new anduseful Construction for ventilating the roof area of buildingstructures.

It has long been recognized that building roof structu'res should beventilated, in order to cool the interior of the building and to preventdamage to the roof and adjacent building structure from. condensation.Indeed,- FHA requirements call for cross ventilation with vent openingsequaling from /15 to A of the horizontal projection of the roof areaever-each space tube ven the roof and certain other factors. To thisend, it is common practice to provide louvered and/ or screened ventopenings at the gables, adjacent both the caves and the ridge, and/ orhooded vent openings through the roof adjacent the ridge.

Adequate ventilation is particularly important where the roof isinsulated, because inadequate or no ventilation permits the formation ofcondensation which, in addition to damaging the roof and interiorfinishes, reduces the effectiveness of the insulation. Here again, thedesirability of providing the necessary ventilation is well known, butthe above-mentioned common methods of venting roof structures are oflimited effect at best adjacent the caves, and where the roof isinsulated they do not ventilate this areaat all. The various proposalsheretofore made for providing ventilation at the eaves have not, for onereason or another, generally been accepted.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of our invention to provide a roofventilating construction for use at the eaves which provides thenecessary air inlet openings into the space between adjacent roofrafters and between the roof and insulation on the interior thereof toassure ventilation of the entire roof structure.

Another object of our invention is to provide the forein an assemblywhich is structurally very strong, while being relatively light inweight and small in size. I Still another object of our invention is toprovide the foregoing in a roof ventilating construction which isrelatively inexpensive to fabricate and easy to assemble in place on abuilding, while being extremely durable and dependable in operation. 7

It is also an object of our invention to provide the foregoing" inaconstruction adapted for use with existing building structures as wellas with new structures incorporating the same as an original partthereof.

A roof ventilating construction in accord with our invention ischaracterized in one aspect thereof by the provision of a housing havinga flashing portion for attachrnent to the roof adjacent an cave, a frontwall portion and a bottom wall portion, brace members to be carried bythe building structure at the ends of the roof rafters, the bracemembers sp nning the housing to reinforce the same, the back of thehousing being open for communication with the space between adjacentrafters, and ventilator openings through the bottom wall of the housinginto the space between adjacent brace members.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characcompanyingdrawings illustrating assign Patented Oct. 4, 196i) acterizing featuresof a roof ventilator construction in accord with our invention willbecome clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of apresently preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with thewherein. like reference numerals denote like parts throughout thevarious views, and'wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional'view of a building and itsr f structure showing an cave ventilator of our invention installedthereon, with portions of the roof structure being broken away for easeof illustration;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in plan and partly in section, taken about online 2-2 of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view from behind and beneath theventilator of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a brace member used in conjunctiontherewith; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of an eave ventilator housing memberof our invention, with the end cap removed.

In the accompanying drawings, device of our invention is shown inconjunction with a building of conventional construction, comprising forexample a roof structure generally designated 1 having the usual rafters2 joined adjacent their upper ends to comprise a ridge 3, with theirlower ends bearing against a pole plate 4 surmounting a wall plate 5superposed on theusual wall studding 6. The inner wall can compriseplaster 7 or other finishing material, with sheathingtl be ing appliedto studding 6 to comprise an outer wall and across rafters 2 to comprisea roof deck. Shingles or other exterior finishing material 9 can beapplied to the walls, and composition or other roofing material 10 isapplied over deck 8.

Insulation 12 can be applied between adjacent roof rafters in spacedrelation to the roof deck 8 and as customary in good construction, doesnot extend to the ridge but crosses between the rafters 2 on oppositesides of the roof at a point below the ridge, as illustrated at 13. Afascia board 14 is secured across the outer ends of rafters 2 to finishthe same, and a finishing board 15 can be provided along the outerrafters 2 at opposite ends of the roof.

the roof ventilating A roof ventilation device comprising a hood 15'over an opening 16 through the roof deck 8 adjacent ridge 3 is providedfor the exit of warm air, the hood having a downwardly directed openingspanned by louvers 17 and screening 18 to preclude the entry of smallanimals, insects and the like. Louvered and/or screened ventilatoropenings also can be provided through the end walls of the roofstructure. However, while such ventilating c'evices are quite common,more is needed to adequately ventilate the entire roof because nocirculation of air will occur adjacent the caves, and particularlybetween roof deck 8 and insulation 12, unless provision is made for theadmission of ventilating air into that area.

In accord with our invention, such means are provided in the form of ahousing, generally designated 20, which is positioned at the eaves,forming a very inconspicuous part thereof and becoming an integral partof the building structure. 1

In its presently preferred form, housing 20 is an integral, one-piecemember having a sloping top wall portion forming a flashing flange 21adapted to be secured to the roof deck 8 adjacent the eaves as by nails22 or other suitable fastening means. The flashing flange 21 fitsbeneath the exterior roofing material 10, as clearly illustrated in Fig.1, and comprises a continuation of the sloping roof line. At its outeredge portion flashing 21 is folded under upon itself to comprise areinforced and reinforcing overhanging lip portion 23. In other words,the overhanging lip portion 23 is itself reinformed besuch embodimentupstanding flange 26.

building structure.

cause the flashing material is folded under upon itself to provide a-lipof double thickness, and it reinforces the entire housing 20 as well asthe superposed roofing material 10. The material of housing 20 'then isbent again to form a depending front wall portion 24 which is bent atits lower edge to provide a rearwardly or inwardly extending, generallyhorizontal bottom wall portion 25 which terminates along its rearward orinner edge in an The ventilator housing 20 is further reinforced, anddivided into individual cells, by means of brace members generallydesignated 28 and each comprising a flashing flange portion 29 adaptedto be secured to the roofing deck 8, beneath the housing flashing flangeportion 21 of the housing, .as by nails 30 or other suitable fasteningmeans. A depending back flange 31 extends from flashing flange 29 forbeating against fascia board 14, in alignment with the ends of a rafter2. A second, forwardly extending flange 32 extends like a wall at abouta right angle to back flange 31 and is designed to span housing 20,having a sloping top edge 33 which, together with the sloping flashingflange 29, causes the same to fit fairly snugly against the flashingflange portion 21 of the housing. The brace members 28 are slotted, asat 26', adjacent the juncture between flanges 31 and 32, to receive theupstanding flange 26 of housing 20.

Thus, the spanning wall or cross flange 32 of brace 28 generallycomplements the interior contour of housing 20 serving to reinforce thesame at spaced points therealong, while dividing the housing into anumber of cells alined lengthwise thereof.

It will be noted that housing 20 has no rear wall, just flange 26, butinstead uses fascia board 14 as a rear wall. To provide forcommunication between the interior ventilator housing 20 and the spacebetween adjacent rafters 2, the fascia board is formed with one or moreopenings 35 therethrough between each pair of adjacent rafters. Thus,the interior of housing 20 is in communication with the space betweeneach pair of adjacent rafters 2,

' at the'roof cave, and ventilating air enters into housing 7 20 throughthe bottom wall 25 thereof which is formed to provide a series ofopenings 37 therethrough. Preferably, openings 37 are formed by punchinglouvers 38 from bottom wall 25, the louvers being inclined so that theyopen downwardly and outwardly relative to the We have found, forexample, that louvered vent openings inch open at their widest points,with openings in housing bottom wall 25 that are /1 inch long and inchwide, spaced apart approximately inch lengthwise of the housing, providesufiicient total ventilating opening area while at the same time beingof sufficiently small size td preclude the entry of undesired insectsand the like into the housing. In other words, screening is believed notto be necessary, although of course the openings could be screened,particularly if it were desired to provide larger openings into thehousing'Zti.

When installed, housing 20 is held by its flashing flange portion 21,which is fastened to the roof deck 8, and is divided by the braces 28into a number of cells, with the preferred embodiment having a cellalined with the space between each pair of adjacent rafters. Ventilatingair flows through the louvered openings 37 in housing bottom wall 25into each cell, and therefrom through the openings 35 into and throughthe space between adjacent rafters 2 and then out as through the hoodedroof vent 215', as indicated by the arrows 40 in Fig. 1. It is seen thatopenings are provided, at the eaves, into the space between each set ofadjacent rafters, so that each pair of adjacent rafters is ventilated atthe eaves. However, it is good practice not to extend the insulation tothe ridge, but to leave open space thereat as illustrated in Fig. 1,whereby the air moving upwardly between adjacent rafters, when itapproaches'the ridge area of the lator of our invention, is quiteinconspicuous, fitting deeply under the eaves so as not to detract fromthe appearance of the building. It is very strong, particularly in viewof the reverse bent lip portion 23 along its outer, upper,- edge andgthe upstanding flange 26 along its rear, lower edge, comprising ahousing of box-like section which fits snugly against the building underthe eaves, being further reinforced by the braces 28 which define withthe housing a construction of great strength. If desired, fascia board14 can be eliminated, being in effect replaced by the ventilating deviceof'this invention.

The rooting material 10 can extend down to lip 23, or

I can terminate slightly short thereof, and the lip 23 overhangs agutter 42 of conventional construction which is secured to the frontwall portion 24 of housing 20 by the usual hanger pins 43 extendingthrough spacing collars 44 and housing 20, preferably through the braceflanges 31 and into the ends of the rafters 2. The brace member flanges32, extending between the housing front wall 24 and the rafters 2,reinforce the housing 20 so that the hanger pins can be driventherethrough without buckling or otherwise adversely distorting thefront wall 24. Thus, brace members 28 reinforce housing 20 and enable itto receive gutters such as that illustrated, and to withstand heavyloads thereagainst. The juncture between the gutter and housing 20 isadequately protected by the overhanding lip 23, whereby there ispresented a structure of very neat, unobtrusive appearance against whicha ladder can be rested without fear of damage. To complete the neatappearance of the installation, a trim strip or molding 45 can beapplied to the building along the juncture between the housing bottomwall portion 25 and the building side wall.

Also, it is contemplated that from time to time it might be desired toclean out openings 37 in the housing bottom wall 25. To this end, thecross flange 32 of each brace 28 is recessed, as illustrated at 47, sothat when a hose or the like is inserted into the housing at one endthereof, in alignment with the arcuate openings 47, a

stream of flushing water can be jetted along bottom wall 25 from one endof housing 20 to the other thereof. Such flushing water will drainthrough the openings 37 and clear the same of any clogging material,with louvers 38 tending to direct the water downwardly away from thebuilding foundation. Where housing 20 is closed at its opposite ends,asby end caps 48, such end caps will have a similar opening 47 which canbe closed by a pivoted cover 50, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Asillustrated, end caps 48 can have side flanges which slip fit over thewall and flange portions of housing 20, or they can be secured theretoby other means suitable for the purpose.

Accordingly, it is seen that the roof ventilating arrangement of ourinvention fully accomplishes its intended objects, providing a means forthoroughly ventilating the space between each pair of rafters, at theeaves, and operating in conjunction with conventional roof ventilatingmeans to provide, in an extremely practical, simple, durable andattractive installation, that degree of roof ventilation thedesirability of which heretofore has been well recognized, but whichheretofore has proven diflicult of solution.

While we have illustrated and described in detail only one, illustrativeembodiment of our invention, we recognize that various modifications andvariations can be made and will readily occur to those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of our invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described our invention, togetherwith its mode of operation, what we claim as new is:

slanting top wall which housing to form a mounting flange for attachmentto a ,roof structure adjacent an eave,

, roof rafters adjacent an eave,

front wall in reinforcingrelation thereto,

said housing between said braces,

1. In a roof ventilating structure, a housing adapted to extend along ancave and having a substantially flat extends rearwardly beyond the afront wall depending from said top wall adjacent the forward edgethereof adapted to be spaced outwardly from the ends of the and a bottomwall projecting rearwardly from the lower edge of said front wall to thecave, a number of bracesextending transversely of said housing at spacedpoints thcrealong and abutting said and said bottom wall having a numberof openings therethrough into said housing being open at the backthereof for passage of air through said bottom wall openings and outthrough the back of said hous- 2. A roof ventilating structure as setforth in claim 1, wherein said openings comprise forwardly openinglouvers.

3. A roof ventilating structure comprising a housing member having asubstantially flat slanting top wall which extends rearwardly beyond thehousing member to form a mounting flange adapted to be secured to a roofdeck adjacent an eave, said top wall being folded under upon itselfalong its forward longitudinal edge to provide a reinforced lip thereat,a front wall depending from said .top wall in inwardly spaced relationrelative to the outer edge of said lip, a bottom wall projectingrearwardly from -the lower edge of said front wall to the eave, a numberof braces within said housing member at spaced points therealong anddefining therewith a housing adapted to be secured to a roof structurealong an eave thereof and to open into the space between adjacent roofrafters thereat, said braces extending from the cave crosswise of saidhousing and abutting said front wall, and said bottom wall havingventilating openings therethrough and into said housing between saidbraces, said housing being open at the back thereof for passage of airthrough said bottom wall openings and out through the back of said hous-4. In a roof ventilating structure, a housing member having asubstantially flat slanting top wall which extends rearwardly beyond thehousing member to form a mounting flange, a front wall depending fromsaid top wall adjacent the forward edge thereof, a bottom wall extendingrearwardly from the lower edge of said front wall, and a flange alongthe rearward edge of said bottom wall, a number of braces having a wallextending from said front wall to the rear of said housing member, therear edge of each brace wall having a portion extending at generally aright angle thereto to form a mounting flange, and said bottom wallhaving openings therethrough into the space between adjacent braces,said housing member being open at the back thereof for passage of airthrough said bottom wall openings and out through the back of saidhousing member.

5. A roof ventilating structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein saidhousing member is of one piece construction folded under upon itselfadjacent the juncture between said top wall and said front wall toprovide an overhanging lip thereat.

6. A roof ventilating structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein saidbrace walls have a sloping top edge and substantially complement theinternal contour of said housing member.

7. A roof ventilating structure as set forth in claim 4,

wherein said braces are recessed at the bottom edges thereof to enableendwise flushing of said structure along said bottom wall.

8. A roof ventilating structure as set forth in claim 7, together withend wall means at opposite ends of said housing member, said end wallmeans having flushing openings therethrough in alinement withsaidrecessed bottom edges, and removable cover means for said end wallopenings. v

9. In a roof ventilating structure, a housing adapted to extend along ancave and having a substantially fiat top wall which extends rearwardlybeyond the housing to form a mounting flange for attachment to a roofstructure adjacent an eave, a front wall depending from said top walladjacent the forward edge thereof adapted to be spaced outwardly fromthe ends of the roof rafters adjacent an eave, and a bottom wallprojecting rearwardly from the lower edge of said front wall to theeave, a number of braces extending transversely of said housing atspaced points therealong and abutting said front wall in reinforcingrelation thereto, and said bottom wall having a number of openingstherethrough into said housing between said braces, said-housing beingopen at the back thereof for passage of air through said bottom wallopenings and out through the back of said housing.

10. A ventilated roof construction comprising, a building having a roof,ventilator opening means for said roof adjacent the ridge thereof, meansdefining openings into the space between adjacent rafters of said roofat an eave end thereof, a housing extending along said cave and having aflashing flange portion secured to said roof adjacent said eave, theouter longitudinal edge of said flashing flange portion being foldedunder upon itself to provide an overhanging lip portion, a front wallportion depending from said flashing flange portion in outwardly spacedrelation to said openings at a point spaced inwardly from the outer edgeof said lip portion, a bottom wall portion extending rearwardly fromsaid front wall portion, an upstanding flange along the rear edge ofsaid bottom wall portion, said housing communicating with said openings,braces carried by said building in alinement with said rafters, saidbraces spanning said housing crosswise thereof to reinforce said frontwall portion, said bottom wall portion having ventilating openingstherethrough into said housing between said braces, and gutter meansextending forwardly from said front wall portion below said lip portion,said gutter means being fastened in place by hanger pins extendingthrough said housing front wall portion into said building adjacent saidbraces.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTSGreat Britain Jan. 7,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION "Patent No. 29547127 October 4, 1960- Harold M. Katt et, a1. 1 It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedpatent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent shouldreadas corrected below. v

Column 6, lines 39 and 40, strike out "an upstanding" and insert insteada Signed and sealed this 11th day of April 1961.

(SEAL) Afloat:

ERNEST w sWiDER- I I ARTHUR w. CROCKER Attestmg ()fificer -ActingCommissioner of Patents

